- Ten Waterford businesses have been selected for a trading initiative at the Harvest Festival
- The initiative provides free stalls, training, and digital promotional support
- The festival runs from 4-6 September 2026 in Waterford City
- Local cafes and businesses are participating in the “Big Breakfast Swap” event
- WLR fm will broadcast live from the festival on 4 September
The Waterford Harvest Festival, running from Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September 2026, has selected ten Waterford businesses for a trading initiative designed to give local food and craft producers a platform during the event. The initiative, run in partnership with the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, provides free premium high-footfall stalls on George’s Street, specialised pre-festival training workshops focused on sales and customer engagement, and a dedicated digital promotional campaign to increase online visibility. The festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Waterford City, supporting the regional economy and providing a showcase for local producers.
The selected vendors include food producers, craftspeople, and artisan makers who have participated in a competitive application process. Local Enterprise Office Waterford has provided mentorship and training to the chosen businesses, preparing them to maximise their sales during the festival and to build lasting customer relationships. The initiative includes live product testing opportunities, allowing small enterprises to use the festival crowds to test new products and obtain instant customer feedback.
Local cafes, bakeries, and bars are integrated into the festival’s official programming, with the “Big Breakfast Swap” event on Sunday 6 September partnering with businesses including The Olive Café, Countrystyle Foods, and Hickey’s Bakery to feed the public in exchange for donations to the local food bank. The newly added “The Old Quarter” hub at Ballybricken Green blends food, culture, and local trading to celebrate the city’s merchant history. WLR fm will broadcast live from the festival on Friday 4 September, providing participating businesses with valuable free media exposure.
Waterford Harvest Festival shared: “We are thrilled to be supporting ten local businesses through this trading initiative, which gives them a massive public platform to showcase and sell their products to the tens of thousands of visitors who attend the festival each year.”
